Day 79 - a half day in the drizzle

The Queen Charlotte Tavern —> Havelock 14km

With only a measly 14km to walk today we treated ourselves to a lie in and set off at 8.30am.

We continued on the link pathway - a light drizzle making us walk a little bit faster than normal.

The waterside track turned upwards and we moved into the hills where we walked looking out across the Pelorus sound.

10/10 marks for this incredible wooden bench built into the rock face. Papa Bassett would be very impressed.

We walked into Havelock just before midday and escaping the rain, headed straight to the nearest cafe for a coffee and a cheese scone. Standing in the queue, I spotted some other hikers in the corner and realised it was Grant & Annie; the couple I met in the Tararuas! They were with their friends Andy & Sam - a Dad and daughter duo who they’d been hiking most of the TA with. I’d missed meeting them in the Tararuas as they’d headed out early to get Sam’s foot injury treated.

We sat and chatted to them for a while before heading to our accomodation at the holiday park. With a whole afternoon to relax it felt like a zero. The South Island was feeling a bit too cruisey so far… but I knew the next section in the Richmond Ranges was about to change all that.